Extensions of Remarks E1003 HON. BLAINE LUETKEMEYER HON
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July 12, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1003 no other options available. Mentis achieves lice Department; and called for the resignation ceptional legal representation. For the entirety excellent results well above the national aver- of then-Police Chief Daryl F. Gates. of his career, Larry was instrumental in public age, with 80 percent of its clients reporting im- The Times continued, ‘‘[t]hrough the Urban defense reforms, developing and advising tal- provements in emotional wellness and daily League he offered services to some of L.A.’s ented lawyers, and encouraging others to be- functioning. most disenfranchised citizens’’ and ‘‘improved come public defenders. The people of Indi- Mentis is the oldest continually operating the lives of countless black and brown people ana’s Fifth Congressional District are forever non-profit in Napa County, and in its 70 years in the city.’’ Even after his retirement from his grateful for Larry’s commitment to the law and of service, Mentis has proven to be a mental official duties, Mack remained influential be- for educating decades of Indiana law students. health champion for all of our Napa commu- hind the scenes and recently played a key role A lifelong Hoosier, Larry was raised in High- nity. With the help of partners all around the in the hiring of a new police chief strong on land, Indiana. He attended Indiana University County, Mentis runs a diversity of programs police reform and the effort to eradicate police where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree including supportive housing programs, de- brutality and racism within the LAPD. in business in 1969. Interested in the legal mentia and depression interventions for older John Mack was born in Kingstree, South system, he earned his juris doctorate from the residents and those recovering from natural Carolina on January 6, 1937, and grew up in Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School disasters. Its work was invaluable during the Darlington, South Carolina. His father was a of Law in 1973. A true public servant, Larry October 2017 wildfires. The staff at Mentis Methodist minister and his mother a public began his law career as a deputy state public provided support and counsel for 700 individ- school teacher. Being PKs (preacher’s kids), defender. His passion for legislation advocacy uals and families who were affected by the was a bond we shared throughout our many led him to work on criminal code reform in fires that tore through our community. years of friendship. He attended North Caro- 1976, 1977, and in 2014, which focused on Mr. Speaker, Mentis, Napa’s Center for lina A&T State University, where he was the ensuring Indiana’s criminal justice system val- Mental Health Services, has been an incred- president of the NAACP chapter. He grad- ues restoration over punishment. Throughout ible resource for our community for the last 70 uated in 1958 with a degree in applied soci- his career, Larry worked with the Indiana Gen- years. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that ology. He later earned a master’s degree in eral Assembly in crafting criminal and juvenile we honor its continued service here today. social work from Clark Atlanta University. justice bills. His many appearances testifying f John began his professional career in before the Indiana General Assembly, as well Oxnard, California at the Camarillo State Men- as providing significant input on most bills af- CONGRATULATING ANNA HEACOCK tal Hospital. He later served as the executive fecting the criminal justice system has been OF THE FESTUS TIGERS director of the Flint Urban League in Flint, invaluable to the state of Indiana. Michigan from 1964 to 1969. He returned to An exceptional leader, Larry helped estab- HON. BLAINE LUETKEMEYER California for good in 1969. lish the Indiana Public Defender Council when OF MISSOURI In 1959, John married Harriet Johnson it was created in 1977. In 1980, he became IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mack, an elementary school teacher, who pre- Executive Director where he conducted over 350 seminars and workshops, published six Thursday, July 12, 2018 ceded him in death. They had three children. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to join me in manuals and numerous articles on criminal Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise acknowledging the work and leadership of the defense, and lectured on a variety of criminal today to ask my colleagues to join me in con- late great John Mack. justice topics. He later drafted legislation that gratulating Anna Heacock of the Festus Tigers f created the Indiana Public Defender Commis- for her first-place finish in the 300m Hurdles at sion in 1989, an organization that rec- the 2018 Missouri Class 2 State Track and CONGRATULATING EMMA ommends standards for low income defense in Field Championship. HOMFELDT OF THE CALVARY capital cases, adopts guidelines of salary and Anna and her coach should be commended LUTHERAN LIONS fee schedules for individual county reimburse- for all of their hard work throughout this past ment eligibility, and reviews and approves re- year and for bringing home the state cham- HON. BLAINE LUETKEMEYER quests for reimbursement in capital and non- pionship to their school and community. OF MISSOURI capital cases. Ever dedicated to the Commis- I ask you to join me in recognizing Anna IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES sion’s mission, Larry now serves as an advi- Heacock for a job well done. sor. Thursday, July 12, 2018 f Passionate about education, Larry became Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise an adjunct professor in trial advocacy at IU TRIBUTE TO JOHN MACK today to ask my colleagues to join me in con- McKinney Law School in 1981, where he gratulating Emma Homfeldt of the Calvary Lu- founded the Trial Skills Practice course. Larry HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN theran Lions for her first-place finish in the recruited a network of highly respected and OF SOUTH CAROLINA 800m Run at the 2018 Missouri Class 1 State qualified trial lawyers and judges to teach, pro- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Track and Field Championship. viding students with an exceptional experien- Emma and her coach should be com- tial learning experience. As a third year IU Thursday, July 12, 2018 mended for all of their hard work throughout McKinney Law student in 1985, I am among Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to this past year and for bringing home the state the countless lawyers who benefited from pay tribute to a great American and South championship to their school and community. Larry Landis’s Trial Skills Practice class. More Carolina native, John Mack. John, the former I ask you to join me in recognizing Emma importantly, a multitude of clients have bene- longtime President of the Los Angeles Urban Homfeldt for a job well done. fited from the enhanced skills of those fortu- League who spent eight years on L.A.’s Police f nate enough to have participated in this criti- Commission passed away June 21st after a cally important course for future trial lawyers. long battle with cancer. He was 81 years old PAYING TRIBUTE TO LARRY LAN- Larry has been honored with numerous and will be sorely missed. DIS ON THE OCCASION OF HIS awards in the public and private sectors. Nota- The Los Angeles Times recently wrote John RETIREMENT AS EXECUTIVE DI- bly, he received the Hoosier Freedom Award Mack was ‘‘one of L.A.’s most influential black RECTOR OF THE INDIANA PUB- from the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association in figures’’ on the subject of police reform. He led LIC DEFENDER COUNCIL 2012, the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in the Los Angeles Urban League through wide- Teaching from Indiana University-Purdue Uni- ranging and significant changes for nearly 36 HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS versity Indianapolis (IUPUI) in 2010, as well as years. He saw the election of the first black OF INDIANA the Part-Time Teaching Award from Indiana mayor in Tom Bradley, the advancement of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES University President Michael McRobbie, in African Americans in prominent positions in 2010. Additionally, he received the Marc the city and the emergence of a growing Thursday, July 12, 2018 Emery Award from the Marion County Public black-Latino coalition, and gained international Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I Defender Agency Board of Directors in 2007, recognition in 1992 when leading then-Presi- rise today to honor Larry Landis on the occa- the Distinguished Teaching Award from Indi- dent George H.W. Bush on a tour after the sion of his retirement as Executive Director of ana University School of Law in Indianapolis in 1992 Los Angeles riots that were precipitated the Indiana Public Defender Council. For the 1998 and 1999, the Reginald Heber Smith by the arrest and videotaped beating of Rod- past 41 years, Larry has devoted his life to en- Award from the National Legal Aid and De- ney King by members of the Los Angeles po- suring those unable to afford counsel have ex- fender Association in 1996, and the Criminal VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:47 Jul 13, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A12JY8.010 E12JYPT1 E1004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 12, 2018 Justice Service Award from the Indiana State cer commission as second lieutenant. COL His final assignment prior to retirement was Bar Association Criminal Justice Section in Guyer was first assigned to Company D, 1– Chief, Strategic Plans Division (SPD), National 1996. 103rd Armor in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Guard Bureau, J5. Retired U.S. Army Major Larry’s life-long commitment to justice and where he served as Armor platoon leader, (MAJ) Christine Langin, SPD interorganiza- public defense led to his service on the board company executive officer, and company com- tional strategist & planner, recently said COL of directors at the Indiana Criminal Justice In- mander in traditional status.